Toolkit: Guides

Social Media

This section provides design specifications and technical requirements for USU's social media platforms, formats, and placements. As you're creating the ads, we always advise that you confirm specs on the individual platforms; they often change. We also encourage you to stay up-to-date on platform policies that may impact the ad getting approved.

facebook iconFacebook Ads

Facebook has the largest user base of all social platforms. Because of this, it is a powerful tool for communicating with our key stakeholders. It provides the opportunity to communicate directly to USU followers and also allows us to reach new audiences through its advertising channels. Through Facebook ads, you can promote an event, increase awareness of a program, or reach prospective students according to their interests or location. The following details will assist with creating and launching a successful Facebook campaign.

Landscape

Width: 1920
Height: 1080
Aspect: 16:9
Format: mp4

facebook landscape

Square/Carousel

Width: 1080
Height: 1080
Aspect: 1:1
Format: mp4 or jpg/png

facebook square/carousel

Vertical (2:3)

Width: 1080
Height: 1620
Aspect: 2:3
Format: mp4

facebook vertical (2:3)

Vertical (4:5)

Width: 1080
Height: 1440
Aspect: 4:5
Format: mp4

facebook vertical (4:5)

Static Image

Width: 1200
Height: 630
Aspect: 1.19:1
Format: jpg/png

facebook static image

Portrait/Vertical (9:16)

Width: 1080
Height: 1920
Aspect: 9:16
Format: mp4

facebook portrait/vertical (9:16)

instagram iconInstagram Ads

Instagram ads are promotional posts or stories in our audience's Instagram feeds. With access to Facebook's extensive targeting options and tools, Instagram advertising is an effective strategy that's easy to implement and has proven effective for communicating with current and prospective students. The following provides specifications for USU's most frequently used Instagram ad types.

Landscape

Width: 1080
Height: 566
Aspect: 1.91:1
Format: mp4 or jpg/png

instagram landscape

Stories (9:16)

Width: 1080
Height: 1920
Aspect: 9:16
Format: mp4 or jpg/png

instagram stories (9:16)

Vertical

Width: 1080
Height: 1350
Aspect: 4:5
Format: mp4 or jpg/png

instagram vertical

Square Image

Width: 1080
Height: 1080
Aspect: 1:1
Format: jpg/png

instagram square image

Square Video

Width: 1080
Height: 1080
Aspect: 1:1
Format: mp4

instagram square video

snapchat iconSnapchat Ads

Snapchat is a popular platform among one of our top audiences, 18- to 24-year-olds, making it an important platform for university social media. This platform offers different ways that you can promote your message including: snap ads, filters, lenses, story ads and dynamic ads. Below, we provide specs for the ad types most frequently used by USU social media. 

Square Ad Image/Video

Width: 1080
Height: 1080
Aspect: 1:1
Format: mp4 or jpg/png

snap ad video

Vertical Ad Image/Video

Width: 1080
Height: 1920
Aspect: 9:16
Format: mp4 or jpg/png

snap ad image

x - twitter iconlinkedin icon tiktok iconOther Social Media Ads

There are several other social platforms that USU uses to communicate with our audiences, most often X and LinkedIn. These  offer similar advertising opportunities as other platforms. 

Static Image

Width: 1200
Height: 628
Aspect: 1.19:1
Format: jpg/png

X/linkedin static image

X and LinkedIn video

Width: 1200
Height: 628
Aspect: 1.19:1
Format: mp4

X/linkedin video

Landscape Ads, 16:9 Static Ads, Square Video Ads & Vertical Ads

Social media platforms also offer the below advertising opportunities. Although not as common as those listed above, it's beneficial to consider including these in an ad set.

Landscape Facebook

Width: 1920
Height: 1080
Aspect: 16:9
Format: mp4

landscape facebook

Landscape Instagram

Width: 1080
Height: 566
Aspect: 1.19:1
Format: mp4 or jpg/png

landscape instagram

Static Image

Width: 1200
Height: 628
Aspect: 16:9
Format: jpg/png

static image

Square Snapchat Video

Width: 1080
Height: 1080
Aspect: 1:1
Format: mp4

snap ad video

Square Instagram Video

Width: 1080
Height: 1080
Aspect: 1:1
Format: mp4

square instagram video

Square Pinterest Video

Width: 1080
Height: 1080
Aspect: 1:1
Format: mp4

square pinterest video

Facebook Square/Carousel

Width: 1080
Height: 1080
Aspect: 1:1
Format: mp4 or jpg/png

facebook square/carousel

Vertical (4:5)

Width: 1080
Height: 1440
Aspect: 4:5
Format: mp4

vertical (4:5)

Vertical Instagram

Width: 1080
Height: 1350
Aspect: 4:5
Format: mp4 or jpg/png

vertical instagram

Vertical Video Ads

Width: 1080
Height: 1920
Aspect: 9:16
Format: mp4

vertical video ads

TikTok / YouTube Shorts

Width: 1080
Height: 1920
Aspect: 9:16
Format: mp4

vertical video ads